Hikigaya's Inner World of Spring

Hikigaya never expected Kawasaki to be this dramatic.

She actually fainted.

Back at the park, her endurance had seemed... normal, right?

Had he gotten stronger?

Well, maybe.

Hikigaya could definitely feel how much his physical condition had improved over the past few days.

Cough.

Of course, that wasn't the main issue right now.

The real issue was Kawasaki.

She had passed out.

And it was definitely his fault.

"Let me try pressing her philtrum... If that doesn't work, I'll have to call an ambulance."

Sure, if he called for help, their embarrassing situation would no doubt be exposed, but saving her was the priority. If something serious happened to Kawasaki, he'd be the one to blame.

Then again...

Maybe he was already to blame.

With a serious expression, Hikigaya pressed down on Kawasaki's philtrum multiple times.

To his surprise, it worked remarkably well.

Kawasaki coughed a few times, groaning softly as she slowly opened her eyes.

"Phew, she's awake!"

No matter how mature he tried to act, he was still a teenager. Seeing a girl—someone he was intimately involved with—pass out because of him, then wake up, made him way too emotional.

Before he knew it, Hikigaya instinctively hugged Kawasaki tightly.

"Kawasaki, thank god you're okay!"

"Ugh…"

Feeling herself wrapped in his embrace, Kawasaki's face turned bright red as she stammered,

"H-Hikigaya-kun, ugh… you—y-you're squeezing too hard…"

As the hazy memories of everything that had just happened resurfaced, her whole body tensed up.

"A-Ah, sorry."

Realizing his blunder, Hikigaya quickly let go, his expression awkward.

"I got carried away… My bad."

"It's fine."

Crossing her arms over her chest, Kawasaki shook her head, her eyes avoiding his as she muttered,

"Hikigaya… you were a bit too intense just now."

"Uh…"

Hikigaya's face instantly flushed as he awkwardly lowered his head.

"S-Sorry… I don't know what happened. I just… I just couldn't help it. It's like you have this, um, unexplainable attraction…"

"Eh? A-Attraction?"

Kawasaki's heart skipped a beat.

And, for some reason…

She felt a little happy hearing that.

But then—

A vision of Yukinoshita's gentle smile suddenly flashed through her mind, causing her to snap back to reality.

"Wh-What are you even saying?! Y-Your girlfriend is Yukinoshita!"

"I know… But I can't deny that you're incredibly attractive, Kawasaki…"

"W-What?! You—Ugh!"

Her face burned even hotter. She stammered, looking completely flustered.

"I-It's probably just the food! I must've made something too nutritious today, and that's why you… ugh. Actually, I should be the one apologizing."

"I betrayed Yukinoshita. Again. I… I…"

Biting her lip, she felt a deep sense of guilt welling up inside her.

She had sworn the last time was really the last time.

And yet…

She had betrayed Yukinoshita once more.

Worse than that—

Some part of her had enjoyed it.

Truth be told…

That was why she had blacked out in the end.

Not from exhaustion.

But because of herself.

Ahhhh!

I'm such a terrible woman!!

"Kawasaki…"

Seeing how remorseful she looked, Hikigaya hesitated for a moment before speaking.

"Look, this… This really has to be the last time. We should just forget it ever happened."

With a flushed face, Kawasaki awkwardly straightened out the wrinkles in her clothes.

Hikigaya remained silent.

Slowly, Kawasaki stood up, preparing to leave.

But the moment she tried—

Her legs wobbled.

"Careful!"

Hikigaya instinctively reached out to support her.

She ended up collapsing into his arms again.

For a moment, the two of them just stared at each other.

Hikigaya coughed lightly.

"Maybe you should go to the infirmary?"

"Infirmary?"

Kawasaki's expression darkened before she snapped,

"Ugh, do you want me to die of embarrassment?!"

"I just meant, you look—"

"I'm fine, I just need some rest!"

Kawasaki huffed, her voice carrying a hint of mortification.

"Don't underestimate a woman's body. We're not that weak."

"...Oh."

Well.

That was some new knowledge for him.

A breeze swept through the rooftop.

The mixture of their scents, the warmth of their bodies—everything felt strangely youthful.

As Hikigaya continued supporting her, Kawasaki's heartbeat started pounding again.

"...A-Are you sure you're really okay?" she asked, nervously biting her lip. "Your body… hasn't fully recovered yet, right?"

"Eh?"

Hikigaya blinked before sighing.

"Kawasaki, you really are too kind."

"Wha—Ugh! I-I'm not kind! I-I'm just—just reminding you because you're Yukinoshita's boyfriend!"

Kawasaki immediately turned flustered, stammering incoherently.

"But just now, you said this was the last time," Hikigaya pointed out, his expression complicated.

Kawasaki's body stiffened. Lowering her head, she mumbled under her breath,

"…That's because… I still kind of… grrk…"

"Kawasaki, what are you trying to say?"

"Cough! N-Nothing!!"

Her face now completely red, she hurriedly changed the subject.

"A-Anyway! You seem fine now, so let's just go back!"

Keeping her head down, she quickly started heading toward the stairs.

"Alright."

Hikigaya followed, helping her down.

Though, near the last few steps—

To avoid being seen acting too close, Kawasaki subtly pushed him away.

A few moments later, both of them returned to class.

As Hikigaya sat down, he instinctively glanced toward Kawasaki's seat, which was about five or six desks away.

And, as luck would have it—

Kawasaki also happened to glance his way at the exact same moment.

Their eyes met.

Kawasaki blushed slightly before quickly looking away.

Hikigaya did the same.

Alright.

Time to get some rest.

With about ten minutes left before class started, he figured he could take a quick nap.

However…

Just as he was about to put his head down—

A certain mischievous foot kicked him under the desk.

"Senpai, quit messing around," Hikigaya muttered in annoyance, turning toward Kasumigaoka.

"Let me sleep."

At his words, Kasumigaoka's lips curled into an amused smirk.

"Well… You were busy on the rooftop just now, weren't you?"

"!"

Hikigaya's face stiffened.

Still, he tried to keep his expression neutral.

"What are you talking about?"

"Heh~."

Kasumigaoka giggled, tilting her head sweetly.

Then—

With a teasing glint in her eyes, she leaned in and whispered:

"Dear~ Was Kawasaki… moist?"

"???"

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